I realized that after leaving Staples, I ended up driving in the wrong direction. I wasn’t headed towards work. I was in autopilot and was heading home. I was completely daydreaming and didn’t even realize where I was going for a little bit!!! I think my subconscious was telling me something. Something that my mind is in one place and its not concentrated on work…more on that in another blog post

Have you ever noticed that you daydream about something that’s completely unrelated to what you are currently doing? It’s been happening to me all the time lately. It’s both a good thing and also a bad thing. I am preparing to live my dream. I am making the right strategic moves to achieve what I want to do and what no one else “suggests” or “thinks” that I need to do. It can be both a liberating and scary feeling. What if what you’re currently doing in life isn’t working out for you? Not only do you need to change your ways, but you need to change your mind!

My question for you is, what is your dream that you want to achieve some day?

As always, if you like this post, share it. Comment if you see yourself daydreaming, too!

Great news! There are two WP Meetups in May! This one is May 24th at the lovely Saveology Corporate office in Margate, FL. We’ll network with birds and monkeys. No really, we will. We’ll get free candy from the candy machines as well. I really am serious

Schedule:

-Networking from 6:30-7PM
-Our panel are WordPress experts from different fields – designer, developer, 2 IT guys will talk about security, and a marketer. Bios will be on the event page shortly at WPMIA.com
-5 Panelists will field questions about WordPress security, U/X design, ease of development, plugins…you name it.
-Panel ends at 8:45pm with a Q&A until 9pm
We’re featuring 5 people on the WordPress Panel:

Andy Vitale, Designer and Co-Founder, The Pancake Movement- http://about.me/andyvitale
http://thepancakemovement.com/

Andy Vitale is a UX Designer in Boca Raton, Florida specializing in emerging technology and digital media. He has over ten plus years of professional experience from designing and maintaining National and International brands to teaching design practices and theories on the collegiate level. Andy spent five years as the Graphic Design Program Department Chair at a regionally accredited University. Staying on top of the latest trends, he has had strategic roles in managing branding and marketing projects across various platforms from traditional to interactive media. Andy is currently working on his Master’s Degree in Human Computer Interaction at DePaul University, adding experience in UX/UI design in addition to his visual design and creative direction background. Andy often speaks on topics such as User Experience, Social Media, Design and Location Based Marketing all across the country.

Andrew Herman Heller, IT Consultant, Yucaroo- http://Yucaroo.com/

Citizen and guardian of Mother Earth. Andrew Herman Heller is also the Founder and CEO of Yucaroo, Inc. – a full service technology consulting firm. With 15 years experience, Herman provides consulting, support and training on WordPress, Social Media and Information Technology with an emphasis on security and privacy. A passionate blogger, Herman was recently published on social media privacy and security referenced by The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication (Washington State University), the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) and the BP Data Privacy Newsletter.

Raphael Caixeta, Developer and Co-Founder of Gripd, Inc. - http://gripd.com/

Raphael is an entrepreneur and noted web and iOS developer. WordPress is at the core of day to day of operations at the company he co-founded. From basic theme development to creation of WordPress plugins, there’s no aspect of WordPress Raphael doesn’t feel comfortable with -http://www.crunchbase.com/person/raphael-caixeta

Michael Alcantara, Founder and President, Alcantara Media- http://alcantaramedia.com/

Michael I. Alcantara is the founder and president of AlcantaraMedia, an internet marketing and technology consulting firm focused on helping businesses and entrepreneurs achieve an online presence through search engine optimization, social media marketing, and innovative web development. Michael has over 10 years of experience working with computer design programs and internet marketing strategies. As a project manager for a major payment processing company, he was able to experience the full spectrum of having to acquire technological services from different providers. This is where AlcantaraMedia came in, a full service, vertically integrated technology firm where clients can get all their needs fulfilled.

David Bisset, WordCamp Miami Co-Founder and Developer, Dimension Media - http://dimensionmedia.com

David Bisset makes WordPress and BuddyPress sites look amazing. David is also an organizer of WordCamp Miami, making sure the conference keeps its edge. He is interested and focused on startup projects and anything WordPress/BuddyPress related (which at this time is majority of his work). Of course, he’s always interested in building interactive applications, especially if they are based in a PHP/mySQL environment.

-Drinks at Saveology and after party at World of Beer in the Promenade at Coconut Creek

Want to dig a little deeper into WordPress? Do you have a burning question? Send it to #WPMIA on Twitter and we’ll probably get to it!

See you there!
http://meetup.com/sf-wordpress-users

Note: This event is $5 online and $10 at the door. Please RSVP early so that we have an accurate head count for Saveology.

As always, we are looking for sponsors to put on quality events. Email Jackie@TheInnovativeConsultant.com for details.

I mentioned Eric Saperston and his award-winning documentary, “The Journey”. He is also the author of Live in Wonder and has a website of the same name. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you have probably seen references, too. What I am getting at-the hypothetical meat and potatoes-some of us in our twenties and thirties are talented and have so much vision and passion…but some of that fizzles if we are in a certain career path or in the midst of getting the wrong college degree. I’ve seen it many times.

Sometimes, the fear of going after your dreams and failing is higher than the dream itself; which prevents us from taking the first step. Or for people like me, I have so many interests that I keep trying different things out to find my path. After almost four years out of college and floating around the communication school in college, I have yet to still figure it all out. And that’s okay. What is not okay is the fact that I have let factors like money, location, economy, family, and surroundings get in my way. I have made excuses and have been frustrated with myself in the past, to the point of real stress. I’ve seen my friends light up and smile when I was still frustrated and grumpy. Although, I am in a better place here in south Florida–I have met some wonderful people and have gotten pretty far in just a year and a half.

What if what we are currently doing is not meant to be? Instead of being frustrated, enjoy what you have for what it is. Take in the lessons learned and cherish the people you meet along the way. You never know where or when they can come in handy in the future.

I read something about people and their purposes. You are meant to cross paths for a reason. It may be for a quick second, for years, or on a project. Appreciate what you learn from others. Help someone figure out their purpose and you might just figure out yours. Don’t let the fear be greater than the dream itself. If you fail, let go of your ego. You learned something for next time you try.

I hope that one day, on our high school or college graduations, we are truly happy to say what we have done and where we are going. I am certainly looking forward to that day. Everyone wants to find true happiness, but it might just be closer than we think.

If you are not doing something that you are passionate about, do NOT take my route in being frustrated. Enjoy and appreciate what you currently have, do not take things for granted or get discouraged. Learn from others and cherish the friendships you make along the way.

One day, you will have that epiphany. Let the path guide you, don’t try to force the path onto you. If there is a fork in the road, so be it.

Do me one tiny favor. Check out Liveinwonder.com and read about Eric Saperston’s journey. You may laugh at how he funded his documentary- with “Sexy Kind Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Made with Love for $1″ but he really brought out a lot in the people he met along the way. He was just out of college and wanted to learn the meaning of life and to bridge the gap between older generations and the younger generation. He ended up interviewing former President Jimmy Carter, Billy Crystal, and his mentor was the Fonz-Henry Winkler. Eric Saperston was once living out of an old VW Bus and is now living in Hawaii, traveling all over speaking to Fortune 500 Companies. I watched his documentary, “The Journey”, and am now carrying his book “Live in Wonder” everywhere I go. Literally changed my life!

Here is a quote from his book to get you started…

“What profession (other than your own) would you most like to experience?” Comment below

As always, if you find this post interesting, share it. I always love reading your comments or feedback, so leave some comments below. Or, tweet me @jackiej04 and tell me what you think

I am a workaholic. It is just in my passion and sense of direction in life. If I am not working, I am planning things for our WordPress Fort Lauderdale Meetups, consulting projects, or actually enjoying the small time I have off. I had the opportunity to fly to Houston for 4 days, and ended up getting sick. I was miserable. Did not get to enjoy the fun that Houston had to offer. That did not get me fully down. I walked back from urgent care and really just marveled in wonder. Funny enough, I saw “Eat, Pray, Love” lately so that is why I am quoting “marvel in wonder”. By the way, you need to buy “Live in Wonder” by Eric Saperston and his award-winning documentary “The Journey”. See more at liveinwonder.com. More on that in another blog post.

On my walk back, I just looked up at the sky. I could not see the tops of these buildings. I wondered, who worked there and where these important people with their suitcases were going. I avoided the homeless people begging for money because I was alone first, and you never know what they are going to spend the money on. I have compassion for them, not having family to rely on or go home to. It’s gotta be a lonely and tough life.

I ventured further into downtown and saw a lake in the middle of the street. It had fountains on both sides spewing water across the way, just like one of those wet zones in Disney. I saw people just sit peacefully outside of the coffee shop reading and enjoying the surroundings. I decided to do the same and just be. It was wonderful! I saw the bird walking across looking for crumbs, some guy deep asleep in an uncomfortable chair, and I just people watched.

I am a wonderer by nature, always thinking and asking questions. I learned to never stop asking questions and keep learning. Sometimes you just need to get away from the grind and just be. One of these weekends, I’m going to shut off the phone and just spend the weekend by the beach. Fortunately I can do that, living in Florida.

My question for you is, where is your getaway spot where you can just “be”?

I sometimes elude  to struggle and unhappiness which is true. Some of my closest friends still don’t know the true me. I keep a tight circle who knows my deepest and darkest secrets, fears, thoughts, and memories. I have learned that being so closed off is only hurting me. I can use my blog, speaking engagements, whatever to empower women, people, and the like to do something about their shortcomings. It is cathartic in the meantime.

I might still not divulge my deepest darkest secrets on here since the whole world can see, but I will tell you something. My childhood was not a cake walk. There was a lot of struggle. Hell, there is still a lot of struggle. People ask me why I am so passionate and driven. It’s because when someone comes from struggle, they envision something better for themselves. It takes perseverance and not backing down when you hear the word “no”.

I may not have a huge following and am not a celebrity. If I can affect one or two people, my influence is just beginning. While helping someone, I can help myself in the meantime.

Here’s to a bright future ahead and not looking back.

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Back in the beginning of January, I was very optimistic. I went through a year in which I thought it was “the year of me”, but it wasn’t. It was full of some struggle and learning, but not true success. It prepared me for this year. Maybe this one is the “year of me”!

In the middle of January, my favorite television show came back after 8 months of hiatus. Call it silly or unreal, but I felt lost without One Tree Hill. This show may be a drama on the CW Network, previously the WB Network, but this coming of age story is also part of my life. It came to me during my senior year in high school. It looked similar to Dawson’s Creek, another coming of age story in Wilmington, NC. This one was different. It was a story of two rivaling half-brothers on a basketball court and their lives surrounding it.

One Tree Hill peaked my interest. It wasn’t just a teen drama. It had literary references and quotes from the main characters in the beginning of each show. It featured some musical artists that now probably thank the show for being where they are–such as Gavin DeGraw, Kate Voegele, and Tyler Hilton.

One Tree Hill quickly became my guilty pleasure. My freshman year in college, I ventured from NJ all the way to Orlando, FL. I knew no one, but One Tree Hill every Wednesday was always there for me. I would rush home from work and turn on the tiny 13-inch TV in my dorm. For one hour, all my troubles would just go away. These guys and girls on a high school TV drama was far-fetched from my life, but it didn’t matter. The story lines, music, literary quotes, and relationships were intriguing.

One Tree Hill somehow got me through a lot of things. My sophomore year in college was stressful. I was working a job, internship, and was at school full-time. For that one hour each week, I would cherish the time I could just forget about everything and watch the show. Each and every year, One Tree Hill fought through struggling ratings and day changes, but made it through each time. That was just like me, struggling sometimes but always saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

One Tree Hill really got to me. At the time I was transitioning from high school to college, the characters were going through that, too. I actually didn’t see them go through college, since the show did a time jump 4 and 1/2 years. I saw how the characters grew up and worked their way through post college life. They too, were lost and trying to find their way.

To be honest, One Tree Hill helped me get through troubling times. I wouldn’t say I would be the same person if it weren’t for the show. I know I’m not the only one. Now that it’s 9 years later I am grateful for the show being on the air this long. The long-running show has been over for weeks, ended on my birthday in fact. I still see myself watching the series finale and quoting their show all over social media. It affected me in a way that I can’t even explain sometimes. Sure, teens hooking up with each other is not that deep, but it was a show that was more than that. Thoreau, John Steinbeck, Hawthorne, and William Shakespeare were all quoted sometime in the show. Budding artists would premiere themselves, not just their songs on the show.

I am grateful to have something so powerful affect me so much. At the time that the Columbine shooting was very somber and shocking, One Tree Hill created a dedicated episode to the topic. It was the most emotional show I’ve seen on the series. They even quoted “It Gets Better” before that was even a movement. I may laugh and smile a lot, but I am also very inspired and pensive. Call me sappy, but I’ve cried a lot watching the series finale.

I hope one day to find another show that affects me so much. For now, I will be watching old episodes and my favorite scenes from the show. I might still quote a lot. I might get a little emotional. Call me a girl.

James Lafferty, Nathan from One Tree Hill says, “From the conversations I’ve had with fans, this show has gotten people through hard times in their lives…and I think this is a testament to what this show is.” I wholeheartedly agree.

I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from the show. It’s so inspired and makes me want to achieve my dreams, rather than just sitting on the sidelines.

“It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re 17 and planning for someday. And then quietly and without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.” –Nathan Scott

“If you had a friend you knew you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it, do it, don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.”–Brooke Davis

“We spend so much time wanting, pursuing, wishing. But ambition is good. Chasing things with integrity is good. Dreaming.”–Haley James Scott

“Make a wish and place it in your heart. Anything you want. Everything you want.”– Mouth

“Do you have it? Good. Now believe it can come true.”-Millie

“You never know where the next miracle’s gonna come from.”–Quinn

“The next memory. The next smile. The next wish come true.”–Clay

“But if you believe that it’s right around the corner.”–Chase

“And you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it. To the certainty of it.” –Chris Keller

“You might just get the thing you’re wishing for.”–Skills

“The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it.”–Julian

“So make your wish. Do you have it?”–Brooke Davis

“Good. Now believe in it.”–Nathan Scott

“With all your heart.”–Haley James Scott

-One Tree Hill, Series Finale, Season 9 Episode 13

Last Thursday, I was invited by Patrick Barbanes and Tonya Shultz to discuss Google Analytics on SocialChats.net. Take a listen at the link below!

Google Analytics 3 31 11

As always, if you find this post interesting-share it. Sign up for my RSS feed to the left and leave a comment worth sharing! Follow me on Twitter @jackiej04.

The curiosity in me set in quickly. I flipped it over and there was the advertisement for The Lincoln Lawyer.

Normally, I think that advertisements are everywhere and a little annoying at times…but this one is very inventive. Who would have thought to put together a coaster and distribute them to bars and restaurants? Advertising a movie is hard to do, especially because of the competition in DVRs, RedBox, Netflix, etc. It’s harder to get people to visit their local movie theater these days.

I say, tip of the {advertising} hat to whichever Advertising Agency made these coasters. Advertising job well done! It caught my attention.

The Lincoln Lawyer is now in theaters. If you’ve seen it, let me know in the comments below!

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Alex has another cool and innovative video, talking about the “New Rules of Business”. It’s too good for words. Watch it below and let me know your thoughts!

Follow Alex on Twitter @waitslowdown. After all, that’s how I met him! Believe in the power of social media.

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LivingSocial increasingly entered the market in 2009 and was founded in 2007. It launched around the same time as Groupon, which started in November 2008. As LivingSocial is quite similar to Groupon, it has differentiated itself by offering LivingSocial Escapes.

Back in October, LivingSocial acquired Urban Escapes, a social adventure company that provided group excursions and travel packages. This is a smart move for LivingSocial, which was more or less offering the ‘deal of the day’ to local restaurants, spas and local businesses at a 50-70% discount.

LivingSocial Escapes offers vacation deals, and truly original ‘escapes’, at a deep discount. Take an adventure to Palm Springs, CA for example. I get a eye-pleasing, enticing deal straight to my inbox that is half off the original price ($415 instead of $842) for a two-night stay. This trip has amenities like:

Now that’s a deal.

Buyers have about one week to decide, in comparison to the daily deals that expire the next day. Have you purchased a LivingSocial Escapes vacation? If so, let me know about your experience!

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